The Washington critic., 1887-12-23
IN THE MARKETS.
Unique Scenes Among tho Small Dealers
In Christmas Decorations.

In Christmas Decorations.
Probably in no city i'm the Union
north of the James River could be wit
messed scene such as one will observe
who strolls around tho outside of the
Center Market in this city just before
Christmas. Under the shelter of the
roof ovcrhanging the pavement border
ing the market is scene both novel and
interesting TO one who has an eye for
the unique and picturesque.
This portion Of the market is devoted
to the colored people and classes of huck-
sters for whom there is no place in the
center of the building to display their
wares. This space is principally occu-
pied to-day by old colored "mammies"
and "uncles" who offer for sale at this
season of the year Christmas decorations
of holly, cedar, mistlctoe and bright
evergreens. They also bring the pro-
ductions of their little "gyarden
patches" strings of red pepper, baskets
Of pop corn, and herbs and roots COM
monty called by the venders "yarbs."
The Carries observer stopped. before
the stand of one of these vendeis and
took in the situation. She was a fat old
lady with skin us black us ebony. A
large red bandana handkerchief encir-
cled her head, turban-like. A bright
shawl over her shoulders and neat
calico dress completed the tout ensemble
Of her attire, which was neat and tidy.
She was seated on an upturned bucket
before charcoal stove, warming her
horny hands, which no doubt had
spanked many n scion Of old Virginia
aristocracy "befo' dc wah," for all these
old mammies We're once important per-
sonages in the nurseries of Virginia and
Maryland households. Spread out on
the pavement before and around her
were wreaths and crosses Of cedar,
lunches of mistletoe and holly; baskets
Of dressed turkeys raised in her own
yard; little blocks of beeswax; lunches
Of "yarbs'' and pile of homemade
woolen socks and mittens.
"Did you knit these yourself, auntie?"
asked the reporter, picking up heavy,
well-made sock which gave n sensation
Of warmth to the verv eye.
"Deed did, honey. ] done wuk all
des yer wi my own hams, and knows
dey am good. Sell you dat pair for fo'
bits"
"Fo' bits" is the Virginia darky's
term for fifty cents. "Doan you want
some Christmas green's 2" she asked,
upon the reporters declining to invest
in the footwear. ''Hyar's some mighty
nice ones; II cheap, too. Desc yer
As no green's were wanted the re.
porter passed on TO the next stand,
which was occupied by young darky
| l, a et. Of. liz T.,
was good-natured looking fellow, with
thick lips and perpetual smile: 81
dun kotch nm myself, yestiddy," he
fresh and mighty fat.
Just then colored man came along
with basket on his arm. "You kotcl
me dat 'possum, Ephrum ?' he asked
the boy. :" Deed | didn't; my dog ain
freed no 'possum fohlong time.
With the average darkey, who hai
been raised in the country, turkey is no
where compared Ia 'possum. and tn,
little marsnpial Is in great demand.
All along the southern front of til,
market the line of evergreen vendcr
display their wares, while on the othe
side Of the street are Christmas tree
for sale. The iron fence Of the Smith
sonian grounds is ohscured by the lin,
OF young cedars, pines and hollies lean
ing against it. a large tree can b,
bought for 1.-TWO bits" twen,y-fv,
cents), and quite II big business is don,
in them. The scene around the marke
is quite lively one, and these people
with their peculiar dialect, provincial
dress and manner, form an interestin,
study for half an hours walk through
the street.